FEEDING THERAPY

Why is our feeding team made up of both occupational therapists and speech language pathologists? Both types of therapists are masters in their field and work together to provide a whole-child approach to feeding! 

Occupational Therapists

Our OTs are nervous system experts! They find fun and creative ways for children to progress toward positive mealtime experiences! Their goals in feeding therapy are to help children with sensory and emotional regulation during mealtimes.

Speech Language Pathologists

Our SLPs are experts at the anatomy of the mouth, throat, and larynx. Their goals in feeding therapy are to help children develop the motor skills needed to achieve safe and effective feeding.

Tethered oral tissue or "tongue, lip, or cheek ties" can create huge barriers for feeding and development. Tethered tongue tissue can lead to body wide concerns including delayed gross motor milestones, 'flathead' (plagiocephaly) or 'wryneck' (torticollis), as well as upper extremity and fine motor delays.

Here's where we come in! Hogg Therapy collaborates with pediatric dentists in the area in order to create individualized care for your child. Through therapy, our trained specialists can provide a helping hand to get your child back on track!

What to look for:

• Colic
• Frequent hiccups
• Significant reflux
• Shallow latch on bottle
• Loss of fluid while feeding
• A clicking sound while feeding
• Upper lip curls in when feeding
• Painful or shallow latch on breast
• Difficulty engaging in tummy time
• Taking 30 or more minutes to feed

Infants:

• Difficulty latching on breast or bottle 
• Gagging, coughing, hiccuping
• Frequent spitting up 
• Losing milk 
• Not transitioning to solids
• Tongue, lip, and/or cheek ties
• Poor weight gain 
• Feeding tube

Older Infants & Children:

• Unwilling to eat or try a variety of foods
• Gagging
• Choking
• Grimacing when eating solids
• Unable to drink from cup or straw
• Poor weight gain
• Feeding tube
• Difficulty using utensils
• Tongue, lip, or cheek ties
• Difficulty tolerating mealtimes

What these red flags tell us:

Any of the red flags listed, as well as your “gut feeling,” may be indicators that your child could benefit from feeding therapy. Though these flags may seem small, they can quickly add up and create serious barriers for your child’s success with feeding.

How we can help:

Hogg Therapy collaborates with lactation specialists, pediatric dentists, chiropractors, and anyone else on your child’s care team in order to create individualized care for you and your child. Through therapy, our trained specialists can provide a hand to help your child thrive.

"After the release, and after therapy, Addi is a completely different baby! That is the understatement of the year, really. The difference was noticed immediately- she was less fussy, she took in less air, she slept better. She dropped the side-head turning preference. She could lift both hands above her head without resistance. I could literally go on and on and on and on. Night and day, this baby. It changed her life, and it changed ours. I am forever grateful.”  -Addi's Mom